The estate at Elliðavatn is first mentioned in 1234 in documents from Viðey island, when half of the lake was owned by the Viðey monastery, in the bay of Reykjavík. After the Reform, and the dissolution of the Viðey monastery, the land was owned by the King of Denmark until the Home Rule in the 18th century allowed Reykjavík to produce goods. It then became an important wooling center. In the 1860, building of stone halls started in the area.
The land was transferred to the Electricity Corporation of Iceland in 1920s, for electricity production. The farming activities went on until 1941, when the farm became a mental health facility.
In 1963, the land was transferred to the Forestry Association of Iceland, who agreed to protect the area in form of a nature reserve. The farm then became the quarters for the park rangers, who rebuilt the old farm at the end of the 20th century. To this day, it is still used as offices for the Forestry Association of Iceland, as well as a conference and reception hall.
About the Heiðmörk Nature Reserve
Heiðmörk is a very popular spot for horse-riding Icelanders. In the area, some country houses have been built in the middle of the 20th century, and ruins of rock houses can be traced back to the middle of the 18th century.. There are a lot of walking, biking, and horsing paths going through the area, where you can enjoy the beauty of the lake.
About the cache
The cache is a sealed food container, a bit bigger than the hand. From the cache there is a beautiful view of the lake.
The cache initially contained :
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A logbook in a zipped plastic bag to protect from humidity,
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Two pencils and a pencil sharpener
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A sheep stamp that you are welcome to take with you as a travelling token.
Please, seal the logbook in the plastic bag, and lock the cache container carefully to avoid its contents to be soaked.
Have fun !